Grand Central: Daze of Summer

A brand-new book with every activity you’d ever want in a book about being the best grand ever! It’s The Simple Joys of Grandparenting: Stories, Nursery Rhymes, Recipes, Games, Crafts, and More. Imagine the homey goodness of warm cookies, classic bedtime stories and creative crafts with the grandkids and you’ll have an idea of how this book will make you feel. Written by Abigail R. Gehring (author of several back-to-basics guides), charmingly enhanced with art from Beatrix Potter and Kate Greenaway and others. It’s a keepsake book any new grandparent will treasure. $16.47-$19.95, hardcover or Kindle at Amazon.

Perfect, Schmurfect

“There are rules. Follow them or go directly to Grandma jail.” This is Rule 1 in Bryna Nelson Paston’s book How to Be the Perfect Grandma. She’s a grandmom with a funny, fresh take on grandparenting (sure, the book first came out 10 years ago, but I’ve just discovered it. So sue me — I’m not perfect! Read a sample here. Paperback $9.99 at Amazon.

Dolls for Dreaming Big

So many dolls on the toy shelves, but which ones are best for your darling granddaughter? Take a look at the award-winning Go! Go! Sports Girls™ dolls from Dream Big. These plush 14-inch sports-themed dolls promote the benefits of exercise, self-esteem and healthy life skills for girls. The dolls are age appropriate and do not encourage an overly mature image. The image is innocent with a subtle yet strong message: Be true to yourself, dream big and go for it! $19.99 each from GoGoSportsGirls.com.

Go-Go-Giveaway!

GRAND is giving away one of these terrific dolls. Just email GRAND Magazine with your name and email. We’ll randomly select a winner by August 10th.

Do I Need Boccebowl Shoes to Play This Game?

Matt Butler

Nah, just come as you are! Rollors is the newest yard game for the whole family (ages 4 and up). Part bocce, part bowling, part horseshoes, it fits inside a compact carrying bag and consists of quality hardwood pieces that you set up on grass or sand. Easy peasy! Matt Butler created the concept during his downtime overseas as an airman in the U.S. Air Force. Now the game is winning awards for reinventing the wheel just for fun. Info at rollors.net or call 478-501-2003. Made in the USA, safety tested and ASTM approved. MSRP $34.99 from online retailers.

Congratulations to Martha M. Smith of Lyme, New Hampshire, who won a Telikin 20″ computer in a random drawing from GRAND. Martha wrote us, “Thank you so much! I will put it to good use. I have been a subscriber of GRAND Magazine since the very first issue, and I really enjoy reading it. My granddaughter Cheyenne is 8, and my grandson Caleb is 6. I see them nearly every weekend, and we have lots of fun together.”

Here’s the Scoop

If your grandkids live far away, you’ll want this free, new DoubleScoop app for computers and mobile devices. “We built DoubleScoop because our own families were struggling to keep our kids and their grandparents closely connected,” said Tina Marquis, director of marketing. Kids as young as 3 can safely send and receive drawings, photos and voice messages within an approved list of contacts with no risk of exposure to strangers or inappropriate ads. Download it free from doublescoop.net.

Want More Energy?

Now there’s a way for busy grands to tap into the natural energy of the earth by wearing oh-so-comfy shoes. pluggz are flip-flops with plugs of a custom carbon and rubber compound that conduct a flow of free electrons from the earth to the body. Durable 100 percent rubber soles, satin-sheen straps, and embedded arch for extra support. And, as our GRAND testers confirm, “They are really cool looking and fit perfectly!” $39. pluggz.com.

Give the Gift of Life

Any age can be the right age to be an organ donor, but we grands are not doing our part. In 2011, people 50 and older accounted for 60 percent of transplants but only 32 percent of donors. That’s why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently launched a campaign at organdonor.gov to educate older adults on registering as organ donors. Says Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health at HHS, “Imagine how many more lives we could save if the majority of the more than 99 million Americans 50 years old or older signed up to give the gift of life.” Video here. More info at the 50-plus page at organdonor.gov.